Extensible shoulder stock for firearms



15, 1947. F. w. SAMPSON ET AL 2,424,1%

EXTENSIBLE SHOULDER STOCK FOR FIREARMS Filed May 1, 1944 EEEIREE 'TlHYDE,

FREDERIEKWEIAMFEIJN,

Patented July 15, 1947 EXTENSIBLE SHOULDER STOCK FOR FIREARMS Frederick W. Sampson, Dayton, Ohio, and George J. Hyde, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May 1, 1944, Serial No. 533,570

I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a stock for a firearm and more particularly to a collapsible stock for a firearm of the submachine gun or machine pistol type.

The primary object of this invention is the production of a stock which has sufficient strength and rigidity for practical use and which may be collapsed to occupy a minimum of shipping and carrying space.

It is a further object to produce a firearm stock member which has a minimum weight consistent with strength.

An additional object is the production of a firearm stock member which may be readily removed to facilitate compact packaging and which may be, when removed, used as a convenient cleaning rod for the firearm.

Another object is the provision of a firearm stock which may be used and secured in positions of varying extensibility.

All of the objects above mentioned and those which may appear hereinafter may be related directly to the problem of producing a weapon suitable for military use and particularly in reference to the problem of producing a satisfactory arm for use by paratroops and similar organizations.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from an inspection of the following specification referring to the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a firearm embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view corresponding to Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are partial cross sectional views on the line 3-3, Fig. 4 showing the latch in the position it would occupy with the stock in the dotted line position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the stock removed from the receiver;

Fig. 6 is a partial, side elevational view of the stock, partially in section to show the adaptability of the stock to use as a cleaning rod.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the firearm to which our invention has been applied is of the same general type as that disclosed in our copending application bearing Serial Numbers 533,566, 533,567, 533,568, 533,569, filed May 1, 1944, and in which the structure disclosed but not claimed in this application is claimed.

The stock 11 comprises a continuous rod mem- 2 her which has been bent to define a shoulder engaging portion 11a and a pair of straight, parallel, forwardly extending rod members 18 which are received in slidable relation in stamped ways 19 welded or otherwise secured to the receiver. Guide ways are also provided on each side of the housin M to receive the ends of the stock rods 18 when it is fully telescoped with relation to the receiver. The stock structure may be conveniently stiffened somewhat by the provision .of a welded or similar joint in the region 11b near the junction of the shoulder engaging portion and the parallel rods.

A locking catch 8| is mounted in the receiver for transverse sliding movement and is normally impelled to the left by the spring 82 which engages between the inner wall of the receiver 1 and the cylindrical latch portion Bla which is conveniently provided with a finger button 8Ib. A similar cylindrical latch portion 810 is conveniently riveted on the catch 8| serving both as a latch and by engagement with the wall of the receiver as a limiting stop for the catch. Notches 83 are provided on the stock rods and are engaged by the cylindrical latches 8Ia and 810 to releasably retain the stock in short position. The fact that these notches are formed with a rounding face and do not pass entirely across the rod makes it possible to apply a deliberate pull to the stock and extend same without releasing the latch by a separate movement, as the latches may be wedged out of the notches by the rounding face to permit the extension of the stock.

It will likewise be readily apparent that the latch portions am and 8lc will frictionally engage the rods 18, when the stock 11 is telescoped or retracted, to resist extension thereof and to hold the stock thus positioned for all practical purposes.

Semicylindrical notches 84 are provided near the ends of the stock rods for engagement with the latches when the stock is fully extended. It will be noted that these notches pass entirely across the rods and that when the latches are engaged therewith the stock cannot be moved except upon deliberate and complete depression of the latch button. It will also be noted that ramp surfaces 844: are provided leading into the notches 84. These ramp surfaces insure that if the stock is extended rapidly there will be no opportunity for the latches to miss engagement with the notches and thus possibly permit an inadvertent removal of the stock. In the event 3 that it is desired to removed the stock completely this can readily be accomplished by deliberate and complete depression of the catch button 8lb which will release the stock for withdrawal from the guide ways 19.

When the stock has been removed from the receiver it will be noted that the parallel rod portions of the stock are ideally adapted for use as cleaning rods. To facilitate this use the ends of the rods are threaded internally to receive cleaning implements such as the brush 91.

It is believed that it will be obvious that by this means a collapsible stock has been provided which when extended provides rigid and cornfortable support for firing the 'weap'on'from the shoulder. It will be noted that the line of reaction from the recoil forces ."is very nearly in line with the points at which those forcesmust be absorbed. When applied to a submachine gun of the type on which it is shown this results in a negligible tendency to climb during the firing of long bursts since the force couple due to recoil forces is more than balanced by the weight of the arm.

It will also be noted that the stock can be telescoped to take up a negligible amount of space for carrying -or stowage and that with the stock in this position or removed entirely the weapon may be used as a pistol or fired from the hip without di'mcu'lty. 7

All of these factors are of considerable importance as applied particularly to military use by air borne combat forces. Vifhile the invention has been illustrated as applied to an automatic submachine gun it is believed that it will be recognized that such a stock could be applied to firearms of any size and type and that it might be conveniently applied to arms of the sporting type for -use in densely wooded areas or under other conditions where it might be desirable to travel light and pack compactly.

1. A firearm comprising a receiver, guideways on and at opposite .sides of "the receiver and extending :parallel to the central longitudinal axis thereof, an extensible shoulder stock including spaced parallel bar slida'bly engaging said guideways, respectively, a latch movably mounted on the receiver to reciprocate substantially along the intersection of a plane normal to said receiver axis with a plane adjacent :and parallel to the plane of said guidewaya said bars having notches in complementary portions'thereof, andsaid latch having spaced latch portions constructed and arranged to engage said notches to retain the stock in a definite position relatively to the receiver.

2. A firearm as in claim 1, and a spring carried by the latch and bearing against a portion of the receiver and a portion of the latch to yieldably retain said latch portions in engagement with the notches.

3. A firearm as in claim 1, a spring carried by the latch and bearing against a portion of the receiver and a portion of the latch to yieldably retain said latch portions in engagement with th notches, said bars having ramp portions formed therein and opening into the notches, for receiving and directing said latch portions toward the notches, as the stock is moved toward and approaches said aforementioned position.

4. A firearm comprising a receiver, guideways located at the sides of the receiver, an extensible shoulder stock including spaced parallel bars slidably engaging said guideways, a latch movablymounteclin and transversely of said receiver, said bars having notches in complementary :portions thereof, said latch having spaced latch .portions for engaging said notches to retain the stock in a definite position relatively to the .receiver, anda spring carried'bythe latch and bearing against a portion of the receiver -an'da portion of the latch to yieldably retain said :latch zportions in engagement with the notches, said ibars having a second set of notches constructed and arranged to receive the latch portions when the stock is in another position relatively to the 'receiver, and said latter :notches having rounded ends for 'camming the "latch portions out of engagement therewith.

FREDERICK W. SAMPSON. GEORGE J. HYDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,200,780 Schmeisser -May 19, 1940 202,946 Johnson Apr. .30, 1887 593,890 Houston Nov. 16, 1897 562,487 Quackenbush June 23, 1896 1,877,016 Munson Sept. 13, 1932 

